Unbaling machine



May 26, 1970 Filed April 5, 1967 V. J. THOMSON UNBALING MACHINE 8Sheets-Sheet 1 Ywcro/z JI /oMsoA/ May 26, 1970 v. J. THOMSON 3,513,522

UNBALING MACHINE Filed April 5, 196'? 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. BYVCTOR .Z 7710/1150# Ja/umm T s v' Y May 26, 1970 v. J. THQMSQN 3,513,522

UNBALING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 k INVENTOR. am@.X7/7104450 May 26, 1970 v. J. THOMSON UNBALING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet4.

Filed April 5. 1967 NVENTOR. V/CJ'OR J, 750A/15M May 26, 1970vxJgTHoMsoN UNBALING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 5, 1967INVENTOR. WU'QR J, .7i/@wmv May 26, 1970 v. J. THOMSON UNBALING MACHINE8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April s, 1967 NVENTOR. Vieron roMso/v BY n n n aa! Q Af d May 26, 1970 v. J. THOMSON 3,513,522

UNBALING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 BCJAAMT'W I" May26., 1970 Filed April 5, 1967 V. J. THOMSON UNBALING MACHINE 8Sheets-Sheet 8 H620 9d 1276.21 964 i7 .22

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Bycrof? J'. 727044504/ United States Patent O 3,513,522 UNBALING MACHINEVictor J. Thomson, Rancho Felicia, Box 275, Santa Inez, Calif. 93460vFiled Apr. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 627,687 Int. Cl. B23p 19/04 U.S. Cl.29--200 16 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF TH-E INVENTIONThis invention resides in the eld of machines Which break the bonds orties that wrap up bundles or packages and then remove and discharge theties from the machine, leaving the bundle opened and accessible for use.It is here illustrated as applied to bales of hay, although it obviouslyapplies to other bundles of material wrapped in a generally similarmanner.

For the owner or caretaker of small herds of livestock, it is arelatively simple matter to cut the three spaced baling wires which arewound tightly about a bale of hay, pull the wire from the hay by hand,and discard it. The hay then may be separated into individual feedingbundles or flakes and distributed to the stock as desired. For smallherds, less than a bale a day, or at most but a few bales per day, needto be opened.

In large feeding yards, however, as for example where dairy cattle arekept, hundreds of bales per'day must be broken open and distributed tothe cattle. In large feed yards this is done by stacking the hay balesadjacent a conveyor. The bales are loaded successively one by one ontothe conveyor. As they move along, it is the full-time duty of one ormore men to snap the baling wires, pull them loose from the hay, anddispose of the wires. The conveyor carries the broken bales into a feedmill where the hay is ground up and mixed with other nutrients prior todistribution to the cattle.

The present invention is adapted to the already existing conveyor linewhich feeds the moving hay bales into the feed mill (or to any otherdisposition desired). It takes the place of the one or more men who,hour after hour, are now required to snip the baling wires and removethem from the hay.

As will be readily seen hereinafter, the present invention is especiallyadapted to the severing and removal of tie bands which extendlongitudinally around the bundle, i.e., in the same direction as that inwhich the bundle is being moved along the conveyor line. It will bereadily evident, however, that the features of the present invention areadaptable to other types of bindings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists of a frameworkadapted to be placed over a hay-conveying track. The frame carries aplurality of cutters, preferably in the form of pairs of shearingblades, which are automatically actuated to snip the wires (usuallythree) which longitudinally bind the hay bales. Thereafter, and inautomatic 3,513,522 Patented May 26, 1970 ICC succession, pairs of jawsor hooks come in from each side and gather the three severed wirestogether at the top of the bale. Thereafter, a shaft is projectedlaterally of the feed line. This shaft has a kerf which receives thesevered wires. As soon as the kerf has received the wires, the shaft isautomatically rotated to serve as a reel, which winds in the wires fromboth ends and wraps them around the shaft. The shaft is then retracted;the wound bundle of wires is wiped from the end of the shaft, anddropped into a disposal conveyor.

All of the above operations are effected without stopping the hay balein its steady transit along the conveyor line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thecomplete unbaling machine, showing a bale of hay in the machine and withthe baling wires in the process of being wound around the reel, prior tofinal removal from the bale;

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of the hydraulic system whichautomatically and successively brings about the several operationscarried out by the unbaling machine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view looking down on a portion of the machine,specifically on the cam-operated hydraulic valves which control thesequencing of the machine;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation taken along the line 4 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing certain portions ofthe machine and the manner in which a bale of hay moves therethrough;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation, looking generally from left to right in FIG.5

FIG. 7 is a top plan view, looking down on the portion of the machineshown in FIG. 5, with certain of the details being omitted in theinterest of clarity;

FIG. 8 shows an alternative form of sensing means which may besubstituted for the sensing means shown in FIGS. 5, 6r, and 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, generally similar to FIG. 5, but showingother portions of the machine and their relationship to the bale of hay,the tie bands of which are about to be broken;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on line 10-10 in FIG.9;

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary perspective View showing the shears or cutterswhich sever the tie bands or wires.

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the relationshipbetween the cutters and the gathering mechanism which gathers the Wirestogether after they are severed by the cutters;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational section taken in the direction ofthe arrow '13 in FIG. l2;

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view looking downstream in the movementof the hay bale and showing the gathering hooks or jaws after they havegathered the severed wires into a common bundle;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially broken away,showing the details of the wire-removing shaft or reel, just prior toengaging the severed and gathered tie wires;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary elevation showing further details of thegathering reel;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to FIG. 16 andshowing the parts in a different position of operation;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary plan view, looking down on certain of the partsshown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary perspective showing the manner in which thegathered wire bundle is wiped from the shaft or reel;

FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 are diagrammatic sketches illustrating thefunctional positions of the hydraulic control valves that control theoperating sequence of the machine;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary elevational view partially secioned showingfurther details of the wire removing ree FIG. 24 is a fragmentaryelevational view partially sectioned showing the outboard end of thewire removing shaft or reel.

DESCRIPTION OF TH-E PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings, 20 represents an elongate guide means or conveyor inthe form of a shallow channel or trough. It consists of a ilat bed 22, apair of low sidewalls 24, and a pair of intermediate runners 26. Balesof hay, one of which is shown at 28, are moved to the left in FIG. 1,along the channel 20, by means of a conveyor chain 30, having upwardlyextending barbs 32 that dig into the body of the hay 28 and thus lindsufficient securement to impel it along the conveyor trough 20.

Mounted transversely over the trough 20 is the unbaling machine 34 ofthe present invention. It consists of a frame having a plurality ofadjustable legs 36, which carry a number of movable frames locateddirectly over the conveyor trough 20. One of these is a verticallymovable cutter frame 38, which carries the cutting means positionedtransversely with respect to the trough 20. These cutting means take theform of three pairs of shearing blades 40, one pair for each of the tiebands or wires 42 which longitudinally encircle the hay bale 28. Thereis another vertically-movable frame 44 which carries the gathering hooksor jaws exemplified at 46. There are two pairs of such jaws whichcooperate to gather together the three severed tie wires 42, so thatthey can be wound around a rotating reel 48. As the tie wires 42 arewound around the reel or shaft 48, they are drawn from around the bale28. When the winding is completed, the shaft 48 is retracted (to theleft in FIG. l). The wound bundle of wires is then wiped from the shaft,dropped into a short conveying trough 50, and thence conveyed by a powerconveyor belt 52 to a trash barrel 54.

The cutting, gathering and removal of the wires 42 is effectedautomatically and in sequence by hydraulic cylinders controlled by aseries of valves 56 which are in turn controlled by cam shafts 58 and 60driven by a small electric motor 62. The sequencing is automaticallystarted by the sensing of the presence of the tie wires 42 by electricor magnetic sensors mounted in the bed 22 of the trough 20.

Once a hay bale 28 enters the machine 34, its continued forward motionis achieved solely by being pushed from the bales behind. This isbecause it is necessary to raise the bale 28 away from the hooks 32 inorder to give clearance for removal of the tie wires 42. Otherwise, thefriction on the wires 42 as they are removed by being reeled aroundshaft 48 would be extremely high. This lifting of the bale 28 isachieved by raising the runners as shown at the incline 64. The runnersor interior rails 26 are so positioned laterally that they do notcoincide with either of the two side wires 42, preferably falling insideof the respective wires.

As the bale 28 is pushed through the machine by the following bales, itis guided into position by side guide plates 66 and upper guide plate68. An overheight sensor (not shown) is mounted and supported justforwardly of the upper guide plate 68 to sense when a bale 28 approachesthat is too high for the machine. This sensor, which may take the formof an appropriately actuated microswitch, serves to stop the conveyorchain 30 in the event that too large a bale tries to enter the machine.

The fact that the bale 28 must be pushed through the machine by thefollowing bales, means that there exists no gap from one bale to thenext. Therefore, the sensing of the leading edge of a given bale cannotfeasibly be done mechanically. For this reason it has been foundnecessary to employ magnetic or electric sensors which sense the leadingedge of the baling wire 42, rather than a mechanical sensor to sense thephysical leading edge of the bale.

Turning to FIG. 2, the hydraulic system which powers the varioussequential operations in the machine of FIG. 1 will now be described.

Numeral 70 represents a positive displacement, hydraulic (oil) pumpdriven by any suitable motive means, such as an electric motor. The pump70 receives oil from a sump 72, through a filter 74, and delivers it toa distribution pipe 76, via a heat exchanger 78. The numeral representsa safety by-pass or dump valve which opens at a predetermined pressureto dump the oil back into the sump 72 by way of a return pipe 82. Valve80 operates when there is a downstream stoppage of flow in the line 76,which would otherwise damage the system by a build-up of excessivepressure. Such stoppage occurs even in normal operation when a pistonbottoms, or reaches the end of its travel.

Oil from the pipe 76 is fed serially through four valves 84, 86, 88, and90, and thence back to the sump 72 by way of a return pipe 92. Each ofthe valves, 84 for example, has fundamentally three positions,determined by the position of an actuating rod 94. When the rod 94 is inits mid-position, oil is directed from the inlet pipe 76 directlythrough the valve to the outlet pipe 96. When the rod 94 is moved to theleft in FIG. 2, a ow path is created from the inlet pipe 76 through thepipe 98, and simultaneously another and separate flow path is createdfrom the pipe to the outlet pipe 96. When the rod 94 is moved rightwardof its mid-position in FIG. 2, a flow path is created from the inletpipe 76 to the pipe 100, and a separate independent path is created fromthe pipe 98 to the discharge pipe 96. These three modes of operation ofthe valve 84 (which is exemplary of all of the valves 84, 86, 88 and 90)are shown schematically in FIGS. 20-22. FIG. 20 illustrates themid-position described above. FIG. 22 illustrates the second .positiondescribed above with the rod 94 moved to the left. FIG. 21 illustratesthe last, third position, described above, with the rod 94 moved to theright.

Each of the valves 84, 86, 88 and 90 controls a respective hydrauliccylinder-and-piston arrangement to extend and retract a piston roddepending on the position of the Iactuating rod 94. The valve 84 is thecutting means valve. When its control rod 94 is moved to the left, oilflows from the inlet pipe 76 to the pipe 98, through the biaseddiversion valve 102, thence to the upper end of a cylinder 104, where itcauses a piston inside the cylinder 104 to extend a piston rod 106downwardly. The piston rod 106 is secured to the frame 38 shown in FIG.l. Thus, when the rod 94 is moved to the left, the frame 38 is caused tomove downward and bring the cutting means into engagement with the topof the hay bale 28.

When the fame 38 has come fully into engagement with the bale 28, thepiston rod 106 is forced to stop. This causes a buildup of pressure inthe cylinder 104, which opens the by-pass valve 102 and diverts furtheroil flow from the pipe 98 to the pipe 108. Oil then ows simultaneouslyinto the outboard ends of a pair of shear-operating cylinders 110, whichare connected respectively to reciprocatmg bars 112 that actuaterespective halves of the shear pairs 40. Thus, after the valve 102 isopened, pressure is applied to extend the respective piston rods 114 andcause reciprocation of the bars 112, which in turn causes the threepairs of shears 40 to close and sever the tie wires 42. The shears 40had previously been brought into cuttlng position over` and around thetie wires 42 by the downward movement of the frame 38.

At the appropriate time in the sequencing ofthe system, the actuatingrod 94 is moved to the right. This causes oil to flow from the inletpipe 76 to the pipe 100 and thence into the bottom of the cylinder 104through the valve 116. When the piston rod 106 has fully raised theframe 38, the build-up of pressure in the cylinder 104 causes the valve116 to open, applying pressure to the pipe 118. This sends oil into theinboard ends of the cylinder 110 retracting the piston rods 114 andopening the shears 40.

During the time that oil is being supplied to the pistons 104 and 110,the downstream valves 86, 88, and 90 have also been receiving oil. Thisis because, whether the valve 84 is in the position shown in FIGS. 2.0,21, or 22, there is always a flow of output oil into the pipe 96 toserve the downstream valves 86, 88, and 90 (as long .as the pistons havenot bottomed).

The function of the valve 86 is to allow the frame 44 to be lowered intoengagement with the hay bale 28, so that the jaws 46 can gather thewires 42 together. To this end, at the appropriate time in thesequencing, the actuating rod 122 is moved to the right, allowing oil toflow from the pipe 96 into the pipe 124, where it causes the piston rod126 to retract downwardly. This removes support from a plate 128 forminga portion of the frame 44, allowing the frame 44 to lower by gravityinto engagement with the hay bale 28. This is fortified by thecompression spring 130. Still later, yat the appropriate sequencingtime, the rod 122 moves to the left, causing oil to flow from the pipe96 into the pipe 132. This now extends the piston rod 126 upwardly andraises the frame 44.

The valve 90 controls operation of the twin hydraulic cylinders 134which are mounted to the frame 44. These cylinders actuate the gatheringjaws 46, which draw the three wires 42 into a common position where theymay be reeled onto the shaft 48. To this end, at the apropriate time inthe sequencing, the push rod 136 is moved to the left, causing oil toflow from the pipe 138, into the pipe 140, where it enters the cylinders134 and extends their respective piston 142 inwardly. The rods 142 areconnected respectively to vertical rocker arms 144, to lower ends ofwhich the jaws 46 are mounted. During this operation, return oil fromthe cylinders 134 flows through the pipe 146, thence through the checkvalve 148 and pipe 150, back to the valve 90 and outlet pipe 92. Thefunction of the check valve 148 will be described hereinafter.

At an appropriate time in the sequencing of the cycle, the shaft 48 isextended into engagement with the wires gathered between the jaws 46, soas to reel in the same and thus draw the wires 4'2 off the bale 28. Thisis effected through movement of the actuating rod 152 to the right. Thiscauses oil to flow from the pipe 154 into the pipe 156, thence into thecylinder 158, where it causes the piston rod 160 to retract, and throughthe linkage -arm 162 adyances the shaft 48.

The precise timing between the engagement of the reel 48 with thesevered wires 42, and the release or opening of the jaws 46 is rathercritical. For that reason the latter operation is controlled by theformer in the following way.

After the valve 90 has caused the hooks 46 to engage the severed wires42, the rod 122 of valve 86 is moved into position to cause oil flowfrom the input 96 to the outlet pipe 132. This causes the piston '126 toraise the frame 44, lifting the jaws 46 and with them the engaged wires42. The gathered or bundled wires 42 are now in line with the shaft 48.At this point the actuating rod 152 is moved to the right and theactuating rod 136 is also moved to the right by their respectiveoperating cams, to be described hereinafter. Movement of the rod 136 tothe right opens an oil path from the pipe 138 to the pipe 150 and fromthe pipe 140 to the pipe 92. Oil cannot flow through the path thuscreated, however, because the valve 164 is closed and the check valve148 prevents flow around the valve 164, which had occurred during theadvance or closing of the jaws 46.

In the meantime, flow of oil proceeds from the pipe 154 to the pipe 156into the cylinder 158, where it retracts the piston rod 160. The oil onthe other side of the piston then flows through the pipe 166, bac-k tothe valve 88, out the pipe 168, where it encounters the blockage createdin the valve by virtue of the closed position of the valve 164. Thiscauses a by-pass or dump valve 170, which normally permits flow of oilfrom pipe 168 to pipe 138, to open, as pressure is built up, and divertthe oil flow into the pipe 172, from which it is dumped back into thesump 72. This hydraulic condition continues as the piston rod continuesto retract into the cylinder 158, i.e., move to the right in FIG. 2.This movement, through the linking arm |162 projects or advances thereel shaft 48 toward the wires held in the jaws 46.

The upper surface of the clevis 174, which connects the arm 162 to theshaft 48, carries a cam or wedge 176, positioned to engage the actuator178 of the valve 164. As the jaws 180 of the shaft 48 engage over thewires 42 held in the jaws 46, but before the piston rod 160 hasbottomed, the cam 17'6 comes into engagement with the actuator 178 andopens the valve 164. This permits oil to ow from the pipe A138 into thepipe 150, through the valve 164, pipe 146, and into cylinders 134, tocommence retraction or opening of the jaws 46. An instant thereafter,just as the jaws 46 are beginning to open, the piston rod 160 bottoms,with the jaws 180 fully engaged around the wires `42. This causes amomentary pause in the retraction or opening of the ja'ws 46, but doesnot otherwise affect the operation of the system. Simultaneously theshaft 48 starts its rotation, as will be described hereinafter. Aninstant thereafter the actuating rod 152 is moved to its mid-position,causing oil to ilow directly from pipe 154 to pipe 168.

As noted above, as the shaft 48 becomes fully extended, with the jaws180 in engagement with the Wires 42, the shaft 48is caused to rotate bya drive mechanism which Will be described hereinafter. While the shaft48 rotates, reeling in or winding the wires 42 around the jaws 180, thejaws 46 complete their opening operation. Shortly thereafter theactuating rod 136 is moved to its mid or neutral position with the jaws46 in open position.

At the appropriate time in the sequencing, the actuator 152 is movedfrom its mid-position to the left, causing oil to @flow from the pipe154 to the pipe 166, thence into the cylinder 158 and causingretraction, i.e., movement to the left of the shaft 48. Such movementautomatically declutches the shaft from its rotaing drive, explainedhereinafter. As it completes its leftward movement under the drive ofthe cylinder 158, the shaft 48 reaches a position where a plate wipesolf the coil of wire wound around the jaws 180, as will be describedmore in detail hereinafter.

Structural details of the system describe-d above will now be given inconnection with the other figures in the drawing.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the physical arrangement of the valves 84, 86,88, and 90. Valve 84 will be used as an exemplar. The actuating rod 94is linked to the valve 84 by a connecting link or lever 182. The rod 94is moved to the right in FIGS. 3 and 4 by a pair of cams 184 and 186,adjustably mounted on the cam shaft 60. The rod 94 is moved to the leftin FIGS. .3 and 4 by means of a pair of cams y and 192, adjustablymounted on the cam shaft 58. Both cam shafts are driven by an electricmotor 62, through a sprocket and chain drive shown at 198. Two cams, forexample 184 and 186, are used at each position in order to adjust thedwell time of the cam against the cam follower wheel 200 and thus adjustthe time during which the rod 94 is held to one side.

The actuating lever 182 is biased to mid-position, shown in full line inFIG. 4, by means of a central biasing spring located in the valve 84itself.

The cam drive motor 62 is started by a sensing mechanism which will be-described hereinafter. It is turned olf by a tab (not shown) mounted tothe shaft 58, which de-energizes the motor 62 after the shaft `58 (andalso the shaft 60) have completed one full revolution. It is desiredthat the motor y62 stop precisely at a position immediately before thevalve 84 is actuated by the rod 94. To insure this precision stopping,the shaft of the motor 62 is provided with a brake 202, which isenergized to brake position the moment the motor 62 is deenergized.Thus, the system always comes to rest in exactly the same position.

A cycle of operation is started by the sensing of the forward edge of abale of hay 28. Such sensing will now be described in conjunction withFIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a hay bale 28 being advanced in thedirection of the arrow 204 by being pushed from behind by the followingbale 28a. It will be recalled that the bale 28 has been elevated abovethe drag hooks 32 by the rails 64 in order to give adequate clearancefor the removal of the tie 'wires 42. It is to be understood that thereis another bale of hay (with wires now removed) immediately in front ofthe bale 28 shown in FIG. 5. This, however, has not been shown in orderthat the details of the mechanism may be seen. FIG. also shows the drivemotor 206 which powers the conveyor chain 30 through a suitable sprocketand chain linkage.

As a bale 28 is advanced (to the left in FIG. 5), the leading edge ofthe tie wires 42 comes over a pair of sensors 208 positioned immediatelytherebelow. Such sensors are known in the art and have the function ofresponding electrically whenever any conducting material is brought intoproximity therewith. Two sensors 208 have been shown to sense the twoouter wires 42. A third sensor to sense the middle wire 42 could beadded if desired by simply oifsetting the drive chain laterally from thecenter of the bale. When any one of the sensors 208 has responded toindicate the presence of wires 42 within their respective spheres ofinfluence, the output is sent through an or gate 210. From an outputline 212, through suitable relays, this sensing starts the drive motor62 that sets in operation the cam shafts 58 and 60, that effect thehydraulic cycle described hereinbefore.

An alternative sensor is shown in FIG. 8, consisting of a transverseelongate housing 214 which is biased lightly against the top of the haybale 28 by suitable supporting springs 216. Within the housing 214 arethree sensors spaced to intercept the respective three tie wires 42.When a wire has been sensed, a suitable or gate is energized to place asignal on the output lead 212 and start the cycling motor 62.

Structural details of the wire cutting means are shown in FIGS. 9, 10,and 11. The cutter frame 38 is mounted for vertical reciprocation in astationary frame 220. To this end, the frame 38 has a pair of bracedvertical side members 222, each of which carries a pair of pulley-likewheels 224 that ride against a circular rail 226 (FIG. secured to theinner face of the stationary frame 220. As noted hereinbefore, thevertical position of the frame 38 is controlled by a piston rod 106actuated from a hydraulic cylinder 104.

The lower end of the frame 38 is articulated, as shown at 228, so thatthe lower portion of the frame 230 can swing back and forthlongitudinally, thereby permitting the cutting shears 40 to advancelongitudinally once they have become embedded in the hay bale 28, as theframe portion 230 is pressed down against the bale by the action of thecylinder 104. In this way the cutting action of the shears takes placewhile the bale 28 continues to move forward along the trough 20.

After a shearing has taken place and the cylinder 104 has raised theframe 38 so that the shears 40 are clear of the bale 28, a return spring232 returns the frame portion 230 rearwardly against a stop 234.

The shearing details are shown in FIG. 11. After the frame portion 230has been pressed rmly against the hay bale 28 by the cylinder 104, thebuild-up of pressure in the cylinder, as noted previously, opens thevalve 102 to by-pass the oil into the pipe 108 and thence into thecylinders 110. This extends the respective piston rods 114, moving thatbar 112 which is foremost in FIG. 11, to the right, and moving thecounterpart (rearmost) baI 112 to the left. The former movement pivotsthe foremost shearing blades 40 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 11),while the latter movement pivots the counterpart blades 40 in acounterclockwise direction. Between them, each pair of blades thusembraces and snips a respective tie wire 42.

After the wires 42 have been severed, the valve 84 (FIG. 2) is actuatedto raise the frame 38 and then open the shears 40, as describedhereinbefore.

While this has been taking place, the valve 86 has been actuated toapply oil to the cylinder 125, lowering the piston rod 126 and allowingthe frame 44 to drop onto the hay bale 28. The details of the wiregathering mechanism are shown in FIGS. 12, 13, and 14. The frame 44includes at the base thereof a pair of transverse horizontal cross bars236 which carry shoes 237 that actually rest on the hay bale 28. Thebars 236 are in the form of inwardly opening channel members havingcircular interior rails 238 (FIG. 13) on which ride pulley wheels 240mounted on a carriage 242. There are four such carriages 242, one foreach of the gathering hooks 46, and each has three pulley wheels 240, asshown in FIG. 14. Also as shown in FIG. 14, there are four hooks 46divided into two cooperating pairs, i.e., an upstream pair and adownstream pair. The upstream pair 46 is mounted to respective carriages242 that ride within the upstream channel member 236. The downstreampair 46 is mounted to carriages 242 that ride in the downstreamtransverse member denominated 236a in FIG. 12.

Four arms 144 are pivotally mounted at 244 to the respective fourcarriages 242. Two of the arms, denominated 144a in FIG. 14, areconnected together by a cross plate 246a, to which is connected thepiston rod 142 of one of the hook-driving cylinders 134. The other pairof arms, denominated 144b in FIG. 14, is connected to a similar plate24617, driven by the piston rod 142 of the other hook cylinder 134.Thus, when the cylinders 134 are supplied with oil in the mannerdescribed hereinbefore, both pairs of jaws 46 close simultaneously,engaging between them the three bale wires 42. It will be seen in FIG.14 that the two pairs of jaws 46 are spaced longitudinally so that thethree wires are bundled closely together in the region between thelongitudinally-spaced jaws. It is in this region, where the wires arebundled together, that the reel shaft 48 engages the wires and windsthem off the bale 28. The reel shaft 48 has been omitted from FIG. 14 inorder not to obscure a showing of other parts of the assembly.

The manner in which the bale wires 42 are removed from the bale afterthey have been severed lwill now be described, with reference to FIGS.15, 16, 17, 18, and 19.

In FIG. 15, 250 represents a stationary portion of the machine frame. Itis mounted transversely of the hay trough 20 and located between the twolongitudinallyspaced pairs of jaws 46, as shown. After the wires 42 havebeen severed, the hook pairs 46 come in, gathering the wires betweenthem into a bundle of three, shown at 252. At the time the hooks are inthe position shown in phantom yat 46-1, the wires are at 252-1.

When oil is applied to cylinder (FIG. 2), the frame 44 rises and raisesthe hooks 46 to the position shown at 46-2 in FIG. l5. To accommodatethis raising, the frame 250 is relieved as at 254 and 256.

Next, the shaft 48 is advanced (to the right in FIG. 15) until the jaws180, formed by the diametric slot or kerf 258 in the end of the shaft,engage over the wires 42. As this takes place, the very end of the shaft(at the right in 9 FIGS. 16 and 17) passes through a hole 260 formed ina vertical deflection plate 262. Just as the shaft 48 cornpletes itsrightward traverse and comes to the position shown in FIG. 17, itengages a clutch, to be described hereinafter, which causes it to rotatein the direction of the arrow 264. Since the bundle of three wires 42,now shown at 252-2 in FIG. 15, is fully engaged in the kerf 258, thewires 42 are reeled from both ends around the shaft 48, as shown in FIG.17. This action pulls the wires from around the bale 28.

The function of the plate 262 through which the shaft 48 passes is toprevent the wires from going off the end of the shaft during the windingoperation. It also aids in insuring that the slot 258 will engage all ofthe wires 42. An instant before winding starts, the jaws 46 have beenopened or separated, thus freeing the wires 42 for the windingoperation. As the winding proceeds, the obliquely-mounted guide rollers266 serve to guide the two side wires 42 around the corner formed by therelief or notch 256 and thus minimize dragging friction.

As the winding proceeds, the hay bale 28 continues to advance so that bythe time the severed ends of the wires are being taken up, they arealmost beneath the shaft 48 itself. At this point, guidance is providedin the form of horizontally-mounted rollers 268 and 270 (FIG. 17), towhich the wires 42 have shifted, from rollers 268 and 270.

The hydraulic sequencing system leaves the shaft 48 in extended positionlong enough to insure that the wires will be fully wound around the reelshaft 48. To insure completion of winding so that the loose or severedends will also be bent around into the bundle 278 (FIG. 19), a guideplate 272 is mounted horizontally across the frame member 250,immediately above the shaft 48. The plate 272 deflects the ends of thewires into the bundle as the winding is completed.

Following the winding operation, the shaft 48 is retracted through ahole 274 in a transverse plate 276, which Wipes the wire bundle 278 offthe end of the shaft, as shown in FIG.. 19, and drops it into the trough50.

It is vital that the shaft 48 come to rest in a position such that thekerf 258 is horizontal, so that it will be properly oriented to engagethe next bundle of wires 252 at the next cycle. To this end a pair ofradial studs 280 are provided on the shaft 48, which project intoengagement with a tapered trough 282. Thus, no matter what the angularposition of the shaft 48 may have been when it was disengaged from itsclutch, the studs 280 will engage the sloping or cam surface at the edgeof the trough 282 and the shaft will be cammed into horizontal position,shown in FIG. 16. To accommodate a dead-center position, where the studs280 might be exactly vertically oriented as the shaft is retracted, thetrough 282 is liexibly mounted to the frame by means of a rubber grommet284. Thus, if the studs do engage the tip of the trough 282 in avertical position, one side of the trough will deflect slightly,upsetting the dead-center relationship and allowing the shaft to becammed slightly to one side, whereupon the normal cam action takes placeand rotates the shaft into a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 16.

The rotary drive mechanism for the reel shaft 48 is shown generally inFIG. 1 and in detail in FIGS. 23 and 24.

As seen in FIG. 23, the shaft 48 passes through a clutch driving member286 independently journaled in its own bearing 288 secured to a fixedframe member 290. The clutch driving member 286 has an internal, conicalclutching surface 292, on one face thereof, and on the outer peripheryis provided with gear teeth 294. The gear teeth 294 are engaged by adriving pinion driven by any suit able source of power, such as a motor296 (FIG. l).

For added support, the shaft 48 is also journaled in a pair of spacedsleeve bearings 298 held in stationary frame members 300. The right-handmember 300 (FIG.

10 23) also serves as an axial back-up for the clutch member 286,through a thrust bearing 302.

A conical clutch member 304 is fixed to the shaft 48 in such a positionthat, as the shaft 48 is moved to the right (FIG. 23), the clutchsurfaces 292 and 304 engage just after the jaws have embraced the wires42 and the end of the shaft has entered the hole 260. The motor 296 isenergized at all times that the machine is in operation, so that themoment that clutch engagement occurs at 304/292, the shaft 48 starts torotate, as explained hereinbefore. This rotation continues until thesurface 304 separates from 292 as the shaft is retracted to the left(FIG. 23).

Details of the mounting of the left-hand end of the shaft 48, showngenerally in FIGS. l and 2, are shown specifically in FIG. 24. To theend of the shaft 48, shown in FIG. 24, is secured a pair of spacedthrust bearings 306 and 308, between which resides a compression spring310, that serves as the clutch spring for the surfaces 304/292. Thethrust bearings 306 and 308 are held to the end of the shaft by an axialbolt 312 anchored by a cotter pin 314. A spacer sleeve 316 serves thedouble function of forming a separator between the two bearings 306 and308 and protecting the spring 310 from abrasion as the bolt 312 rotates.

In operation, the linkage arm 162 moves to the right in FIG. 24, thusmoving the clevis 174 also to the right by virtue of the pivot bolt 318.This moves the shaft 48 to the right until the clutch surfaces 304/292(FIG. 23) come into engagement. Further appreciable rightward movementof the shaft 48 is prevented at this point, but the arm 162 and clevis174 continue to move to the right a slight distance, causing the face ofthe clevis 174 t0 further compress the spring 310. This places aresilient thrust on the shaft 48 through the bearing 308, and thusconstitutes the clutch spring which holds the clutch surfaces 304/292 inengagement.

RSUM oF OPERATION The operation of the unbaling machine will now bebriefly reviewed.

A bale of hay 28 is pushed into the unbaling machine by the followingbales driven by the drive hooks 32. When the forward end of the balecomes over the sensors 208 (FIG. 5i), the cam drive motor 62 (FIGS. 1and 3) is started, driving the two cam shafts 58 and 60, which actuatethe four hydraulic valves 84, 86, 88 and 90. (FIGS. 2 and 4). The frame38 is driven downward by the action of the drive cylinder 104 (FIG. l),placing the shearing cutters 40 in position to sever the tie bands orwires 42 (FIG. 11). The cylinders 110 then actuate the bars 112 to closethe scissors-like cutters 40 and sever the wires 42. The valve 84 isthen moved to position to raise the frame 38 away from the hay bale andopen the cutters.

The valve 86 is actuated to allow the frame 44 to drop down onto thehay, digging the jaws 46 slightly into the hay and placing them inposition to gather the wires, as shown in FIG. 12. The arms 144 are thenmoved inwardly by the cylinders 134, causing the jaws 46 to gather thethree wires 42 into a bundle (FIG. 15). The valve 86 is then actuated tolift the bundle of wires up from the hay bale, as shown in solid linesin FIG. l5.

The shaft 48 is advanced (to the right in FIG. 2) by the application ofhydraulic oil to the cylinder 158 from the Valve 88. This causes thejaws 180 to embrace the bundle of wires 42 (FIGS. l5 and 16). As theshaft 48 advances, the cam 176 (FIG. 2) actuates the valve 164 to allowoil to ow into the cylinders 134, opening the jaws 46. Just as the shaft48 reaches the rightward extent of its travel, the clutch surface 304engages the surface 292 (FIG. 23). The constantly rotating drive gear286 causes the shaft 48 to rotate, reeling in the wires 42 from bothends, as shown in FIG. 17. After sufficient time has elapesd to completethe reeling, the valve 88 is actuated to retract 1 1 the shaft 48. Thebundle of wires 278 (FIG. 19) is wiped off as the shaft draws backthrough the plate 276. The wire bundle 278 slides down the trough 50 tobe ultimately discharged into the trash barrel 54 (FIG. l). The camshaft 58 then actuates a switch, cutting off power to the motor 62, andenergizing its locking brake 202.

A cycle is thus complete and the machine is at rest until the leadingedge of another bale 28 is sensed by the sensors 208 to instituteanother cycle.

Whereas the present invention has been shown and described herein inwhat is conceived to be the best mode contemplated, it is recognizedthat departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention,which is, therefore, not to be limited to the details disclosed herein,but is to be afforded the full scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What iS Claimed is:

1. Machine for unbaling hay and the like, adapted for association withelongate guide means along which a bale of hay may be moved, saidmachine comprising:

cutting means for severing a plurality of tie bands encircling the bale;

means for gathering together the tie bands after severance by saidcutting means and prior to removal from the bale, said gathering meansmoving said tie bands so that at least a portion of each tie band is insubstantially the same location.

2. Machine for unbaling hay and the like, adapted for association withelongate guide means along with a bale of hay may be moved, said machinecomprising:

cutting means disposed transversely with respect to said guide means inposition to Sever tie bands longitudinally encircling the hay bale;

movable frame means on `which said cutting means are mounted; and

means for moving said frame means toward and away from the hay bale,thereby to bring said cutting means into and out of engagement with thebale.

3. Machine in accordance with claim 1, including:

removal means for removing severed, gathered tie bands from the haybale.

4. Machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gathering meanscomprises at least one pair of opposed jaws, and

means for closing said jaws about the severed tie bands,

thereby to gather the same together.

5. Machine for unbaling hay and the like, adapted for association withelongate guide means along which a bale of hay may be moved, saidmachine comprising:

cutting means for severing a plurality of tie -bands encircling thebale;

means for gathering together the tie bands after severance by saidcutting means and prior to removal from the bale;

said gathering means comprises two pairs of opposed jaws, one pair beingspaced longitudinally of the other pair with respect to said elongateguide means, said jaws being mounted to close and open by movementtransverse of said guide means,

means for closing said pairs of jaws, thereby to gather therebetween thesevered tie bands,

reel means mounted for rotation about an axis transverse of said guidemeans and intermediate said two jaws pairs,

means for moving said reel means axially into engagement with the gathertie bands, and means for rotating said reel means thereby to wind thesevered and gathered tie bands around said reel means, removing samefrom the hay bale.

6. Machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said lmoving means forsaid frame means comprises hydraulic cylinder and piston means, and

including means for actuating said cutting means in response to build-upof hydraulic pressure in said cylinder and piston means to apredetermined point.

7. Machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said movable frame meansis mounted for movement parallel to said elongate guide means, wherebysaid frame means and said cutting means mounted thereon may movelongitudinally while engaged with the bale, thereby obviating thenecessity of halting the bale in its movement along said elongate guidemeans during the severance of the tie bands.

8. Machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein said removal meanscomprises:

reel means engageable with the severed, gathered tie bands, and

means for rotating said reel means, thereby to wind the tie bands aroundsaid reel means.

9. Machine in accordance with claim 3, including:

first hydraulic means for actuating said cutting means,

second hydraulic means for actuating said gathering means,

third hydraulic means for actuating said removal means,

valve means for supplying fluid respectively to said three hydraulicmeans,

cam-operated means for actuating said valve means to successively:

(l) actuate said cutting means to sever the tie bands, (2) actuate saidgathering means to gather the tie bands, and (3) actuate said removalmeans to remove the severed gathered tie bands from the hay bales.

10. Machine in accordance with claim 5, including:

means responsive to said reel moving means for opening said pairs ofjaws after said reel means has engaged the severed tie bands.

11. Machine in accordance with claim 9, including pump means forsupplying hydraulic lluid under pressure,

said respective valve means being connected in series,

so that hydraulic uid is supplied from said pump means to the valvemeans for said cutting means, thence to the valve means for saidgathering means, and thence to the valve means for said removal means.

12. Machine in accordance with claim 9, including:

rst frame means to which said cutting means is mounted, for moving saidcutting means into cutting engagement with the tie bands,

second frame means to which said gathering means is mounted for movingsaid gathering means into gathering position with respect to the tiebands,

fourth hydraulic means for effecting movement of said first frame means,

fth hydraulic means for effecting movement of said second frame means,

said cam-operated means effecting, successively, application ofhydraulic uid,

(l) to said fourth hydraulic means and to said rst hydraulic means,

(2) to said lifth hydraulic means,

(3) to said second hydraulic means, and

(4) to said third hydraulic means, thereby to successively cut, gather,and remove tie bands from the hay bale.

13. Machine for unbaling hay and the like, comprising:

cutting means for severing at least one tie band encircling the haybale,

reel means engageable with the severed tie band, and

means for rotating said reel means, thereby to wind the tie band aroundsaid reel means.

14. Machine in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

said reel means has a diametric slot at one end thereof in which the tieband may be engaged, and

means for effecting relative movement between said reel means and thetie band, whereby they are brought into engagement with each other, sothat upon rotation of said reel means the tie band is wrapped aroundsaid reel means.

13 15. Machine in accordance with claim 13, including: means foreifecting removal of tie bands Wrapped around said reel means. 16.Machine in accordance with claim 14, including: means for positioningsaid diametric slot in alignment with the tie band, whereby uponengagement between said reel means and the tie band, the latter entersinto said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Potts 130-1 Wright 130-1 Cobb83-89 Harrigan 29-427 Schneider.

Thompson 242-78 Abramson 29-427 Buckley 29-427 THOMAS H. EAGER, PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R.

